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Description
Rutilated quartz is a macrocrystalline quartz. The host quartz can be clear, gray, purple, brown or pale yellow. It is opaque or transparent and has a vitreous luster. The rutile inclusions are highly refractive and have a metallic shine. Rutile can be red, gold, silver or black in color. It appears within quartz as very fine vertical or horizontal needles between 0.1 and 1.0 millimeters in diameter. Quartz is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness and rutile is a 6.
History
The most common mineral on Earth is quartz, and it makes up approximately 12 percent of the Earth's crust. Rutile is a titanium dioxide mineral and is used as a high-tech alloy. Rutilated quartz has been used in jewelry, religion and as a metaphysical stone for thousands of years. About 2,000 years ago, Pliny wrote about quartz growing in caverns and caves.
How It Forms
Rutilated quartz slowly forms deep within the Earth's crust in igneous rocks, pegmatite dikes and schist (metamorphic rocks) at high temperatures.
Metaphysical and Healing Properties
Metaphysicists believe that rutilated quartz can enhance comprehension and creativity, ease depression and loneliness and induce sound sleep. It is also said to stimulate clairvoyance, slow aging and strengthen the immune system.
Caring for Rutilated Quartz Jewelry
Rutilated quartz jewelry is most often cut and polished into cabachons. Clean it with warm, soapy water and dry it thoroughly with a soft, absorbent cloth. An ultrasonic cleaner also can be used, but steam cleaners should be avoided.
Other Names
There are several other names for rutilated quartz, including Venus' hair stone, Cupid's darts, Fleches d'amour and rutile in quartz.